OLED DEVICE WITH CAPACITIVE PROXIMITY SENSING MEANS

• US 20110148812A1
• Filed: 08/28/2009
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips Lighting Holding BV (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Hente, Dirk
• Granted Patent: US 8,552,936 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96062 with tactile or haptic feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96076 with spring electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960795 using organic light emitting devices, e.g. light emitting polymer [OEP] or OLED

Abstract

An OLED device comprised of: an OLED means, a capacitive proximity sensing means for sensing a change in a capacitance, a mechanical element, and a means to provide a signal, wherein the OLED means and the mechanical element are movable relative to each other upon operation by a user and can assume a first position or a second position, wherein the capacitance is adapted to change between a first capacitance and a second capacitance when the OLED means and mechanical element are moved between the first position and the second position by an operator, and wherein the signal depends upon the capacitance.

Claims

1. An OLED device comprised:

an OLED means,

a capacitive proximity sensing means for sensing a change in a capacitance,

a mechanical element, and

a means for providing a signal,

wherein the OLED means and the mechanical element are movable relative to each other upon operation by a user and can assume a first position or a second position, wherein the capacitance is adapted to change between a first capacitance and a second capacitance when the OLED means and mechanical element are moved between the first position and the second position by an operator, and wherein the signal depends upon the capacitance,

wherein the OLED means comprise

a first electrode layer,

an organic light emitting layer, and

a second electrode layer,

wherein the organic light emitting layer is between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer,

wherein the mechanical element comprises a conductive element adjacent to one of the first electrode layer or the second electrode layer, and

wherein capacitance is formed between the one of the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer and the conductive element.

2. The OLED device of claim 1, wherein the OLED means is adapted to provide tactile feedback.

3. The OLED device of claim 1, wherein the mechanical element is adapted to provide tactile feedback.

4. The OLED device of claim 3, wherein the mechanical element is selected from the group consisting of a button, a switch, and a dome foil structure.

5. The OLED device of claim 1, wherein the signal is adapted to one of:

indicate a transition between the first and the second position,

indicate if the OLED means and the mechanical element are in the first position or in the second position, and

indicate if the OLED means and the mechanical element are in the first position, the second position, or in an intermediate position and wherein the intermediate position is a position intermediate to the first and the second position that is assumed when the OLED means and the mechanical element are moving between the first position and the second position.

6. The OLED device of claim 1, wherein the capacitance is formed between the OLED means and ground.

8. The OLED device of claim 1, wherein the OLED means is connected to the mechanical element by an elastic element to enable relative movement between the mechanical element and the OLED means.

10. The OLED device of claim 8, wherein the elastic element is between the OLED means and the mechanical element.

11. The OLED device of claim 8, further comprising a mounting structure, wherein OLED device is mounted to the mounting structure, wherein the mounting structure is comprised of a front surface and a mounting recess, wherein the conducting element is mounted within the mounting recess, wherein the OLED means are attached to the elastic element, wherein the elastic element is attached to the mounting structure, and wherein the OLED means is one of:

mounted flush with the front surface or mounted protruding beyond the front surface.

12. The OLED device of claim 8, wherein the elastic element is adapted to transmit light.

13. The OLED device of claim 1, wherein the mechanical element is adapted to transmit light.

14. The OLED device of claim 1, wherein the OLED device is patterned.

7. (canceled)

9. (canceled)